Regulated & public

Student debt recovery, built around how students pay

We recover tuition, accommodation, library, sponsor, research and commercial debts for universities, colleges, independent schools and student accommodation providers. A dedicated student team works evenings as well as days, with a 24/7 self-service hub so students can pay, set up a plan or talk to us when it suits them.

Talk to our education team How we work
universities, colleges and accommodation providers 150+
countries we collected in last year 154
of collections recovered from the UK, with no overseas agent fees 83%
student contact centre, Monday to Friday 8am–8pm

At a glance

  • 10% UK · 15% overseas, no collection, no commission
  • Work starts within 24 hours
  • FCA authorised · CSA member since 1995
  • Collected in 154 countries last year

A student ledger isn't a trade ledger.

Addresses go stale fast

Term-time addresses, graduation, withdrawal mid-year and students returning home. Gone-aways are a predictable share of the ledger, not an exception.

International by default

Fees owed from students now living in another country, time zone and legal system, often paying from a foreign bank account.

Reputation is in the brief

Your students, alumni and applicants all talk. Every contact has to be firm, fair and defensible.

Regulated consumer debt

Student debt is consumer debt. Consumer Duty, vulnerability and the CSA Code of Practice apply to every call, letter and text.

Engagement first, escalation only when it's needed

A dedicated student team

Student collections and customer service teams working 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, so we reach students when they are available.

Self-service, around the clock

Our student hub lets students view their balance, pay, complete a financial review, set up a plan or request a call, 24/7, including continuous payment authority on foreign bank accounts.

Tracing built in

Gone-aways move to our in-house trace team with your permission. Two independent datasets must confirm an address before we use it.

Legal when it is right

For home students, a small minority of debts go to STA Legal through the County Court Bulk Centre, only with your approval.

Five stages, the same on every student account

  1. 1

    Introduction letter

    A regulated letter setting out the balance and every way to get in touch.

    More detail

    Every student receives our regulated letter of introduction, setting out the balance and every way to get in touch.

  2. 2

    Phone and the student hub

    Calls first, then emails, texts and letters, each linking to the hub.

    More detail

    Calls are our strongest route to payment; students who do not answer get emails, texts and letters, each linking to the hub.

  3. 3

    Payment or a plan

    Most accounts resolve here

    Payment in full or an affordable plan, set up by phone or online.

  4. 4

    Trace if they've moved

    Gone-aways go to our trace team with your permission, and contact resumes at the verified address.

  5. ✓

    Legal, only if approved

    Home students: pre-action letters, then a claim via STA Legal.

    More detail

    For home students, pre-action letters and then a claim via STA Legal. International debts may go to a local agent with your consent.

Questions education clients ask us

Will students know you're acting for us?

Yes. We introduce ourselves as acting on your behalf from the first letter. For in-year credit control, we can call in your name instead.

How do you handle vulnerable students?

Vulnerability is identified and recorded, and contact is adjusted to suit. Every process is designed around Consumer Duty and Treating Customers Fairly, and the student hub lets students manage things without a call if they prefer.

Do you take legal action against students?

Only as a last resort, only for home students who have not engaged at the amicable stage, and only with your prior approval. Most legal costs, plus court interest, are recoverable from the student.

Can you collect from international students?

Yes. Most international collections are recovered directly from the UK. See International students.

What does it cost for universities?

Commission on what we collect, agreed with you in advance. Ask us for terms, or for our framework pricing.

Talk to our education team

Tell us what's on your ledger, tuition, accommodation or commercial, and we'll tell you how we'd approach it.

Get in touch